Combate Americas has announced a two-part series, “Combate Americas: Mexico vs. Spain”.
The events are set to feature a bevy of rising prospects from the two countries, with the first event, scheduled for March 8, to be held in Mexico, and the second, scheduled for the fall, to be held in Spain.
The March 8 event will take place at the Arena Coliseo in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, an arena long renowned for its involvement with combat sports, first promoting a boxing event in 1959, and today well-known for its prominence in the “Lucha Libre” realm.
The event will be aired in both English and Spanish. The Spanish broadcast will be on both Univision and Univision Deportes at 12:00 AM/9:00 PM (ET/PT), while the English broadcast – in the United States and Canada – will be streamed on DAZN at 10:00 PM/7:00 PM (ET/PT).
In addition to the announcement of the event, Combate also revealed three feature bouts that will take place on the card.
The card’s main event is a lightweight bout contested between Mexico’s Alvaro “Chango” Herrera (9-6) and Spain’s Ignacio “Levium Armorum” Capella (5-1).
Herrera, 29, last fought for the UFC. An eleven-year professional, Herrera competed on the local circuit in his native Mexico before earning a place on The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 2, which took place in 2015.
Though eliminated by Hector Aldana on the show, Herrera was signed to the UFC. He debuted on that season’s Ultimate Fighter Finale, where he knocked out Vernon Ramos in just thirty seconds.
After his UFC debut, Herrera hit a skid, dropping three straight fights to Vicente Luque, Jordan Rinaldi, and Devon Powell, respectively.
In his Combate Americas debut, Herrera will look to return to his winning ways at home – fighting in his native Guadalajara, but he will face a stiff test in Capella.
Capella, 26, has never looked better. Since dropping a decision loss in his professional debut back in 2014, Capella has rattled off five straight wins.
All five have been finishes, with four wins coming via TKO. Capella has predominantly competed on the French regional circuit, where he has earned a reputation as one of the country’s top lightweights.
He will look to take out his toughest opponent yet, Herrera, in his Combate debut.
In the card’s co-main event, another Guadalajara native, Victor “Periquito” Madrigal (7-2), will face Spain’s Zebenzui “El Niño Roca” Ruiz (7-2).
Madrigal, 29, is coming off of an incredible performance at Combate Americas 27. The Mexican bantamweight submitted fellow prospect, Cristian Quiñonez, in the third round in a back-and-forth battle.
Madrigal will look to move his Combate record to 2-2 and score another finish against Spain’s Ruiz.
Ruiz, 25, will make his Combate Americas debut on the strength of a four-fight winning streak. A staple on Spain’s regional circuit, Ruiz has finished all but one of his professional wins with strikes.
A third bout was also announced, this time in the women’s atomweight division. Mexico’s Alitzel Mariscal (1-0) will look to win her second professional bout against Vanessa “Chiquitina” Rico (3-4).
Mariscal, 20, made her professional debut just last October. Training out of Team Grasso, the famed Guadalajara gym, Mariscal’s future looks bright in the sport.
She will take on an experienced opponent in Spain’s Rico. Rico, 38, is a twelve-time national champion in judo in her native Spain.
The Spaniard has fought thrice for Combate, amassing a 1-2 record with the promotion. Rico has finished two of her three wins by submission and will look to get back into the win column against Mariscal.
According to the press release, the complete preliminary card will soon be announced.